﻿Mental Wellness Task Force

The Purdue University Mental Wellness Task Force is a coalition of campus and community partners whose mission is to promote wellness, identify monthly stressors, and provide resources for faculty, staff, students, and others who may be interested in promoting mental wellness on campus. The information on this page represents resources, trainings, and other educational opportunities to assist students.

Monthly Stressors

Monthly stressors can impact student success. Knowing what to expect and how to refer students can help them navigate challenges throughout the year.

Recreation & Wellness is committed to enhance the quality of life on campus. They provide intentional recreation and co-curricular experiences for our student employees and participants that promote lifelong learning and an appreciation for a healthy lifestyle.

Environmental Health & Public Safety includes the Purdue Police and Fire departments on campus, who are the REM teams that help train to keep you safe and in compliance with the many rules and regulations that govern a large research campus. They offer a wide variety of training programs, from fire prevention to alcohol awareness to choosing the proper personal protective equipment.

Student Success empowers and inspires all students to embrace a sense of life-long learning by providing nationally-recognized, student-centered, pre-college preparation and college success initiatives and services.

Diversity/Inclusion works to enhance campus diversity by increasing the enrollment and success of students from underrepresented minority populations, increasing the representation of underrepresented minorities within the faculty ranks, and leveraging the research talent on campus to create a nationally recognized center of activity in studying factors affecting inclusiveness and success of underrepresented minority students and faculty.

Talking with Students

The themes below are the foundational messages of our program. The following key themes and messages that can be incorporated into programming/presentations/discussions with students. Each one of the talking points below can be developed further by students, faculty, staff, parents, and other campus partners to promote mental wellness. If you would like suggestions on how to develop these messages for your audience, contact Julie Cox or Tammy Loew.

Problem Solving: Everyone has challenges, experiences, and obstacles. Knowing when to ask for help is key!

Failure: Failure is an important part of learning and success.

Core Values: College life requires clarifying values and adapting to a new normal.

Coping with stress: Stress is natural and can become overwhelming. Building resiliency to cope with stress means finding healthy ways to de-stress.

Interpersonal relationships: Understanding how to communicate and develop relationships is key to success. This includes respecting each other, sharing your feelings, supporting each other, and finding gratitude.

Campaign to Change Direction

Purdue has joined the Campaign to Change Direction. The campaign is focused on changing the culture of mental health and teaching people the critical signals that signify someone is hurting emotionally and might need help. The message of the Five Signs creates a common language that helps people talk more openly and freely about mental health.

Trainings, Certifications, & Presentations

QPR Suicide Prevention Training

This ninety-minute training helps Purdue community members learn to recognize the warning signs for suicide and assist those in need. Upon completing QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Gatekeeper training, each participant will be trained as a gatekeeper and receive a certificate. Due to the interactive format of this training, this presentation has a 40-participant maximum. Learn more about Purdue's QPR training.

Teaching Sessions: Student of Concern & the Behavioral Intervention Team

This hour-long presentation helps member of the Purdue community become aware of concerning behavior, learn how to make a report, and understand what takes place after a report is submitted. Participants will also learn about the Behavior Intervention Team, and presenters will be available to discuss any specific concerns attendees may have. Sign up today to attend this presentation.

All attendees will be provided with a "Student of Concern Guide" for easy reference of resources available to students 24 hours a day; seven days a week.

New Student of Concern Guides have arrived and are ready for distribution. This guide serves as an easy reference of resources available to students 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To request copies, visit: Click here to request a copy.

SAFE ZONE and TRANS Inclusion Training

Purdue SAFE ZONE is a community of students, faculty, staff, and community members who have participated in a three-hour workshop focused on building a safe, affirming, and welcoming campus for members of the LGBTQ community. Safe Zone participants are individuals who are willing to provide a safe haven, a listening ear, and support for LGBTQ people or anyone dealing with sexual orientation or gender identity/expression issues. Safe Zone members can display a placard in their office, classroom door, or residence showing that they are a friend to the LGBTQ community. They can also participate in continuing education opportunities through the LGBTQ Center in SCHL 230. Learn more about Purdue's Safe Zone Training.

From media coverage of transgender celebrities to national discussions of rights for transgender people, transgender and gender non-binary identities and experiences are more visible than ever. Via recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education, university staff, faculty, and students are now required to update many policies and practices to be trans-inclusive, often with only limited knowledge of the concepts of gender identity and sexuality. This training is designed to provide information about trans identities and help attendees develop skills to create inclusive and compliant spaces to support trans students, staff, and faculty. Learn more about and Purdue's Trans Inclusion Training.

FREE fall community training:

“Coping Skills for Resilience: Facing Change, Failure, and Other Beasties”